This research analyses the relationships between resources and capabilities in Chinese business incubators to determine the relative importance in enhancing the service performance of incubators. A mixed-method design is used consisting of an in-depth case study and structural equation modelling based on survey data. Incubator managers are advised to invest in infrastructural and external resources and networking capabilities, which are positively correlated with performance. We find that resources relating to government policy, such as funding, may have a negative impact on incubator performance while other integrated service capabilities have little correlation with improved performance.
International efforts to tackle desertification led by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) support participatory approaches. The emphasis has been on dialogue between different perspectives, which are often grounded in individualism rather than prioritizing society as a whole, and as a result progress in implementation has been slow. China has made substantial progress in tackling desertification, but its approaches have been controversial, and the sustainability of its achievements has been questioned. While China has been active in UNCCD processes, its approach to addressing desertification has differed from those of other countries. China can thus offer important insights into the international campaign, while acknowledging that China can also learn from the efforts of others. We compare the UNCCD's "bottom-up" approach and China's "top-down" approach to better understand the challenges of tackling desertification. We examine the evolution in how desertification has been addressed and shed light on the context behind the changes, focusing on the role of science, policies, and public participation. We find a convergence between top-down and bottom-up approaches and that similar challenges have been experienced. Constant communications with outsiders have enabled adjustments and changes in both China and the international community, even though their approaches remain distinct. We conclude that both approaches are moving toward solutions that start from proactive investments of governments in financial, legal, institutional, and organizational aspects, draw on scientific insights, and which are grounded in the motivated and voluntary participation of non-state actors. Improved sharing of lessons across these approaches would help to create a better enabling form of environmental governance that contributes to tackling desertification.
Environmental regulations (ER) can support or dissuade the reduction of carbon emissions. However, there are limited studies on the impact of ER on carbon emissions for the transportation infrastructure. Using provincial panel data from China for the period 2001–2017, this study measures how ER can affect the carbon emissions efficiency (CEE) of transportation infrastructure. The study uses Hansen's panel threshold model to analyze current thresholds of ER on CEE. The results show that (1) China's transportation infrastructure during 2001–2017 experienced a 10.15% decrease of CEE; (2) there are significant heterogeneities across the regions of China regarding CEE; (3) ER produces some CEE threshold effects in China's current transportation infrastructure. This study proposes alternative evaluation methods and theoretical frameworks for dynamically measuring the CEE of transportation infrastructure, and provides governments with improved criteria to design effective environmental policies.
Environmental performance allows measuring the existing gap between countries regarding their environmental policy objectives. Improving environmental performance also allows countries to achieve their sustainable development goals. However, a systematic identification of factors influencing environmental performance constitutes a premise to improve it and such a review of factors has not been conducted in previous research. This paper develops a quantitative literature review of the factors influencing environmental performance in which a total of 84 journal papers were identified by keyword retrieval between 2004 and 2019. Literature metrological and literature content analyses are performed and two major research outcomes are obtained: first, a list of environmental performance influencing factors and a classification of the five main research streams related to environmental performance: enterprise, government, economy, technology and society. Second, building on the previous classification, a research agenda is proposed which points out current shortcomings and potential research directions for environmental performance research. The results of this piece of research provides a theoretical reference for improving environmental performance. It can also help countries target better environmental management practices when seeking global sustainable development. Highlights 84 journal papers are analysed with metrological and content analysis. Grounded theory produces a list of factors affecting environmental performance. Environmental performance factors are classified in five relevant categories. These categories are: enterprise, government, economy, society and technology. A research agenda is proposed for meeting the 2030 Sustainable development goals.
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a major problem among military veterans and civilians alike, yet its pathophysiology remains poorly understood. We used genomewide association study (GWAS) and bioinformatic analyses, including 146,660 European-Americans (EAs) and 19,983 African-Americans (AAs) in the US Million Veteran Program, to identify genetic risk factors relevant to Intrusive reexperiencing of trauma -- the most characteristic symptom cluster of PTSD. In EAs, 8 distinct significant regions were identified. Three regions had P<5×10(−10) -- CAMKV; chromosome 17 closest to KANSL1 but within a large high-LD region that also includes CRHR1; and TCF4. Associations were enriched with respect to the transcriptomic profiles of striatal medium spiny neurons. No significant associations were observed in the AA part of the sample. Results in EAs were replicated in UK Biobank. These results provide new insights into the biology of PTSD in a well--powered GWAS.
